Wire-stitching machine



Sept. 5, 1944. G. H. HARRED 7 2,357,736

WIRE-STITCHING MACHINE Filed Ap-ril 27, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet l @y 'Zik/mt 3 sheets-sh'et 2 G. H. HARRED WIRE-STITCHIING MACHINE Filed April 27, 1943 Sept. 5, 1944.

Madan olyejafjed .B

l l iv Sept. 5, 1944.

G. H. HARRED WIRE-STITCHING MACHINE Filed April 27, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 gyeal'fed 'in such machines to adapt the box-blanks to be Patented Sept. 5, 1944 l UNITED STATES (infinci:

WIRE- STITCHING MACHINE George H. Hatred, Eas't Greenwich, R. ,)asfsigif to Boston Wire SttclierA Company, Portland, Maine, a corporation of Maine 1 Application April 27, 1943, Serial No. 484,688

15 Claims. (61.1;11)

The present invention relates to stapling or Another object, is to provide auxiliary feedwire-stitching machines for stitching the seams rolls and a gauge for use as attachments to stand--l of :corrugated paper and ber-board boxes or ard machines to adapt them to stitch Work close; cartons, and more particularly to improvements 1y adjacent the leading edge of the blank.

Still Aanother object is to provide such improve-f stitched closely adjacent their leading edges as merits in a maehiiie 0f the type indicated 2S 'are they are advancedthrough the machine. of simple and compact construction, adapted for Wire-stitching Imachines have been used execonomical manufacture and .efficient in operatensively for stitching the manufacturers tion.A l seams, so-called, of slotted boxes or cartons 1Q Further Obeie of the imprevement are Set having closure flaps at their ends which are ferth in the ollqwilig Spe'CiCtiOn Which deadapted to be folded inwardly to form the top Scribes a reered GHSIUOII 0fr the inven* and bottom of the finished article. In such mation, by Way 0f eX-empli?, es illustrated 'by the chines the leading edges of the closure naps en'- aeedmrenyirlg dilfwing III the drelWingSI gage and actuate a gauge to initiate operation I5 Fig. 1 is' an end elevational View of a wireof the wire-stitching means. Considering that Stitehing mehiliincoi'porating the novel fea'- the Ibex-blanks are inserted at the front of the i'dires' 0f the preserit invent/i011 and ShOWng 'the machine and fed toward the rear thereof the relationship 0f auxiliary feed-rolls and the` abutment of the gauge in such machines is posiaiblltment f the gauge to adaptl the machine fo' tioned beyond or rearwardly ofthe stitch-line 21o S'tfthing the W0 K elesely adjacent the leading of the wire-stitching means a distance equal to edge of the blah the length of the closure flaps. While the abut- Fig.` 2 is a iron .y elevational view of the wire-A ment or the gauge is usually adjustabie te adapt stitching head Slicwinel a tubular box-blank the machine to stitch boxes with closure flaps grprd between 'e ui'iliery feed-rolls While' of dilerent lengths, the construction of the 25 berig advancedd g 9J titehilig OIeratiO-l' gauge and other elements of the machine is s uch F-g- 3 S erred-1 eddeiaild View O'f the Work- 'as to limit the setting ofthe gauge close to the,` Operated gauge Sliewg the' relationship 0f the stitch-line. That is to say, at the forward liniitl par-'GS Drl" t' ai -Sjfj'tfihfg Operatin of adjustment ef the gauge the abutment is stili Fig 41s" a der .emmer i0 Fig# 3 Showing the an appreciable distance to 'die rear of the stitch.- ee Pivied' 'gaugebilimerfi rocked' by the' Work* t line of the wire-stitching` means. In such` priorv ciiate the Slidjhg; 15mg@ f the" gauge and' mi; art machines the feed-rolls for advancing thetialte the operatic@ di the wir'e-stit'chirig means'- work between stitches are positioned atv the rear' O M513? the mis? S'th'r' of the wire-stitching means and are adapted toI Fg- '5 iig' View Similar t6 Figi" 3 Showing" the' engage the closure iiaps to initiate the feeding' abutment fkedw me Work* t5 Pass be' of the blank. However, with certainY types ff tween it' and me; mi"mmbr 0f then gug? Work such as tubular boxes" having only four Fig-61:5 ai debaired' 91am View of the gauge with sides. and' open ends, it is desirable to stitch mega-Tg5 inf the' feltve positions mug" manufacturers seam closely adjacent the lead;-

t'iad inn-gt3; v i-ng edge of the blank asit advances to engage' 4@ Fig? 7 mi md from elevatona'l View 0f' the; gauge.. 1311,92 Wlk-O'pelfV e'd'gI-gk ShWIg h lflp-I-lelflone ei the objects of the present invention is -"l M6215? it t0 'be actuated by tox provide a machine of the type indicated Winch y i ifs. adapted to stitch the manufacturers seain ofv M' "r to: Eig' '7 shewig the' a tubular box-blank or similar work closely act- 'Y i y )f "y d* b5 the Wire'stitchig jacent the leading .edgev thereof as'4 the Iblank ads-A l" from enggeme't lances .Y r y Another object is to provide a machineof the 9 S'" ai' 'STV@ 0f' ai tubular box' type indicated with Cooperating @edel-011sp-O-si- Y showing the"niainuaclrsseamstitched closely tiened ferwardiy ei the stitehdine ef the wire; so" adjacent its Aends. stitching means to advancev theY work between Referril'g" 'e'difwifjig, 'die lrfeSeIiii irlVerietitenes when Stitched eieseiy adjacent the ieadtion is showrii as ip'pl-i'leil2 Wire-stitching ma' ing edger of the, blank. chine of tli'etyp'e-y ilistrated and" describe'ef in` my' Another object is to provide a machine' oi" the Dril" lfteiii N'- 2`3` SSled- December 1:51

afee indicated with auxiliary feed-relis adapted :is 1942*.v it is te be understood; however, 'dietthe to befdrivenffromv the mainfeed-rolls. improvements of the"` present; invention' can be Another object is to provide a machine `of the' appl'ied'to the tyz'e"l f iviielstitching' machine' type indicated with a gauge adapted" to bev ad illustrae 'and'deisc bediril my prior' patenti, No. justed to aA positioniclosely adjacent the stitchi- Q 2';,266`,"55f0;'SsiiefdiDoflril` 16, 194:12 arid also to' line o fV the wire-stitching means; 00 other'types'. Siifc'e" 't statek herein, that` the" machine, during the first half revolutionV of the.v

drive-shaft 4 a length of wire is cut fromthe v supply, formed into a U-shaped staple, driven into the work and clinched on vthe under side thereof; and during the second half revolution of the drive-shaft 4 the parts of the stitching mechanism are returned to initial position and another length of wire is fed into the head1' The driveshaft 4 may be connected to a suitable primemover by 4an electro-magnetically-operated clutch, not herein shown, in the manner illustrated and described in my prior patent, No. 2,305,418, referred to above. stitching head 2 is a work-supporting table 5 which may be mounted in any suitable manner on the machine-frame; Depending from the stitchinglhead 2 is a combined flap-guide and clinching anvil 6 of usual construction having clinching grooves 1 adjacent its rearward end.

The work in the form of: a folded box-blank W is fed either continuously or intermittently in timed relation to the operation of the wirestitching head 2 by means of cooperating feedrolls 8 and 9 positioned rearwardly of the stitchline of the wire-stitching head 2 see Fig. 1. The upper feed-rolls 8 are mountedon a shaft I0 journaled in suitable bearings I Iidepending from the head Zand arm 3. The lower feed-rolls 9 are mounted on a shaft" |25 journaled in yieldable bearings I3 at the endV f Varms I4, see Fig.;1. The opposite endsv of thearms. I4 are mounted fast on a rock-shaft I5 which extends throughout the length of the machine. A

The operation of the wire-stitching head 2 is controlled by a work-operated gauge I8 shown in detail in Figs. 3 to 6. The gauge I8 comprises an upper stationary horizontal plate lgsupported from an arm depending from the frame of the wire-stitching head 2, see Figs.y 1 and 3. Slidably mounted on the under side vof thestationary plate I9 is a plate 2I having studs 22 projectingy through elongated slots 23 in the stationary plate withA washers 24 overlying the top faceof the latter under the heads of the studs'.V Fastened .to the fixed plate I9 is a switch-block 25mounting two separate switches having push-buttons 26 and 21, see Fig. 6. The switches may be of anysuitable type for closing an electrical lcircuit when their push-button `26 or 21 is depressed, the pushbuttons being normally moved to the open position illustrated in Fig.v 6. The sliding1 plate 2| of the gauge I8 normallyA is maintained. in its forward position, shownin Fig. 6, bymeans cfa spring 28 connectedbetweena pin onthe arm 20 which supports the gauge and a pin on a post 30 surmounting the sliding plate. y Y A VThe operator for the switches comprises the post 3D which is xedly mounted on the sliding plate 2| and projects'lupwardly through an elongate slot 3l in 'the-.fixed plate I 9. The `post 30 carries adjustable abutments 32 arid 33 engageable with the push-buttons v26 and 21 4of the stitches and, as herein illustrated, the abutments are in the form of set-screws screwed into the post 36. As shown in Fig. 6,' the abutment 32 'is adapted to engage and operate the push-button Below the wire- 26 of one switch prior to the engagement of the abutment 33 with the push-button 21 of the other switch.`

Mounted in arms 34 and 35 projecting laterally from the opposite ends of the slidable plate 2| is a rock-shaft 36, see Fig. 6. An arm 31 fast on the forward end of the rock-shaft 36 is positioned adjacent a reciprocable member 38 of the stitching head 2 and is adapted to be engaged by a finger 39 thereon during the application of a stitch S to the work. At the opposite end of the rock-shaft 36 is an arm 40 which is adapted to engage with an adjustable abutment 4I oiiset from the side of the arm 35 to limit the rocking movement of the rock-shaft. AS thus far described the construction is substantially identical with that illustrated and described in my vprior patent, No. 2,305,418, referredto above.

The sliding plate 2| of the gauge is adapted to be actuated by the work W in a manner later to be described in detail whereby to cause the abutments 32 and 33 to operate the push-buttons 26 and 21 of the switches in succession. Closing of the switch by operation of the button 26 will actuate suitable mechanism to cause the shaft' I D mounting the upper feed-rolls to be disconnected from continuously-operated driving means and to connect the shaft to an intermittently-operating driving means in the manner illustrated and described in detail in my prior patent last referred to. Closing of the second switch by the button 21 will cause the drive-shaft 4 for the wire-stitching head 2 to be driven from'a suitable prime-mover to initiate a wire-stitching operation. During a stitching operation the wire-stitching head 2 will apply a staple S to the work while the feed-rolls 8 and 9 remain idle and the feed-rolls then will be rotated to advance the work W while the reciprocating parts of the wire-stitching head are being returned to initial position.

In accordance with the present invention a pair of cooperating auxiliary feed-rolls 44 and 45 and a novel form of work-operated gauge-mechanism are provided to adapt the machine to stitch the work W closely adjacent its leading edge as it is advanced to the stitching means. While the machine is Aadapted to stitch various kinds of Work W the present improvements are provided particularly to adapt the machine to stitch tubular boxes of the type illustrated in Fig. 9. Such boxes are in the form of a rectangular sleeve for enclosing an oblong article when wrapped with a suitable covering. The tubular box-blank W is in the form of a rectangular sheet of liber-board or the like which is scored longitudinally to provide adjacent panels with a marginal strip at the side of one end panel adapted to overlie the side of the opposite end panel to provide an overlap for the seam. The tubular box-blank W is stitched with a row of staples S to provide a manufacturers seam throughout the length of the box and the stitches extend closely adjacent the ends thereof,

As illustrated in the present drawings, the auxiliary feed-rolls 44 and 45 may be applied as an attachment to the machine to adapt it to feed folded blanks for forming tubular boxes of the type illustrated in Fig. 9. vThe upper auxiliary feed-roll 44 is mounted fast on the end of a shaft 49 journaled in a bracket 41 attached to a flange 48 on the arm 3 which supports the head 2, see Fig. 2. Mounted fast on the opposite projecting end of the shaft 49 is a gear 50 for driving the roll. The upper auxiliary feed-roll 44 is driven from the previously described upper leed-'11511` 8v bymeans of an idler gear 5! whichf interme'she'swith a gear 52' on the shaft l0 and the gear `6onthe shaft 4:9, see Fig. 1.

The lower auxiliary feed-'roll- 45 is journaled on1 a; stud 53v carried at the outer end'v of.an armi 54 pivotally mounted on the shaft- I5.- Mounted fast on theshaft I5 v atthe side of' the arm 54 is a crank-arm 55 having a laterally-extending finger 56 at its end which underlies the arnfr 54. An adjustable abutment in` the form of a set-screw 51 extends through the finger 56 on thecrank-arm 55 to engage and-rock the arm 54' mounting the lower auxiliary feed-roll 45. AY similar adjustable abutment 58 is mounteclin anf extension or tail-piece 59Y projecting from the hub of the arm' 54 to adapt it to engage against the bottom of the table 5 to limit the rocking' motion of the arm and movement of the lower auxiliary4 feed-roll 45 away from the upper auxiliar'y feed-roll 44. Counterclockwise rocking motion of the shaft l5 to move the lower feed-roll 9'j3'owa3r`d` the upper feed-roll 8 will cause the abutment 51 on the crank-arm 55 to engage the arm 54 and rock it upwardly to raise the lower auxiliaryV feed-roll 45 toward the upper auxiliary feed-roll 44. The cooperating pair of feed-rolls? 44 andl 45 thus is adapted to grip the work forwardly of the stitch-line of the wire-stitchingheadZ to advance it as it is stitched close to its leading edge. While one pair of auxiliary feedrlls 44 and 45 only is shown in the drawin-gs it is to be understood that another pair of auxiliary feed-rolls may be provided at the opposite side` of the seam to be stitched if desired.

The work-operated abutment 46 of the gaugemechanism comprises a plate` proj eoting upwardly from the table 5- and having a central clearance recess or opening 62 in its upper edge and depending hinge-ears at its opposite ends. The abutment 46 is pivotally mounted on the ends of afro'd 63 held in spaced bearing-blocks 64 and 65 at' the forward end of a longitudinally-adjustable plate 66 supported on the table 5. ing-blocks 64 and 65 are of identical constructionrivete'd or otherwise attached to the plate 66, see Fig. 6. Each of the bearing-blocks 64 and 65 has a horizontal upper face and a forwardly and downwardly-inclined face 68, see Fig. 3. A helical springv 69v is provided on the rod 63 with one of its ends bearing against the supporting plate 66 and its opposite end bearing against the rearw'ardside of the abutment 46, thereby tending to rock the latter in clockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. 3, the rocking movement of the abutment being limited by the engagement of its bottom edge with the top of the bearingblocksl 64 and 65. The abutment 46, however, is adapted for rocking movement in counterclockwise direction from the position shown in Fig.- 3 to that shown in Fig. 5 against the action of the Spring 6.9,' K

To adapt the plate 66 for adjustment on the table 5 it is provided at its rearward end with longitudinally-extending slots 161 having recesses 'H surrounding the slots. Bolts 12 lextend through the slots 16" in the plate 66 and through holes in the table 5, the square heads 13 of the bolts being positioned in the recesses 1I. Nuts 14 yscrewed onto the Shanks of the bolts tightly clamp the plate 66 to the table 5. To adjust the position of the abutment 46 in relation to the stitching means the nuts 14 are loosenedon die* bolts 12 andl the plate 66 slid longitudinaiiy of the table. Due tothe construction of the supporting plate 66 the work-'operated abutment 46 The bear- 6 andclosely adjacent the stith-line ot the wireof a plate having" pivots 80 adjacent one end which project? laterally from" its4v side;Y The pivots areI journaled in depending" bearing-blocks 8l attached to`l th sliding plate 2ln of the gauge I6' by means of screws 83,: see' Fig; 6. The adjustable extension 1'8is in t `e form of an angleiron hav-ingy ani upper' nan-ge 84 overlying the top of the trip-member 19'v and'- a dependingflange c'avernan'gifng' its* end,4 the forward end depending flange'being inclinedto provide a camfacev 86 as illustrated-in Fig.3`; The upper ilange 84 of the extension- 18 has a longitudinally-extending slotl 81 through srews 88 extend to clamp it to the tri'iz-member`19.v By loosening the screws 8'8 r`he; extension 18l may be adjusted-' longitudinally t'" engage' its forward end with the rearwardv face ofthe wrk-perated abutment 46 inan-y adjusted positiorrof the latter. A-

compression-spri-"g 89 is'- provid'ed'between the sliding? plate Z' of tliegaugeI and the trip-member 19 for normally holding thel trip-member and its extension 18 in depressed position as shown in Fig. '1. The spring'S,l however, isadpated to yield to permit the trip-rlfiernbev to be rocked to the position illustrated Fig".n 8:

Overlying the trip-member? 19 at the opposite side or the pivots' 80 frmvthe/ extension 18 is an actuating arm 90' rigidly afx'ed to' the' rocke shaft 36'. The afm' 90l cal-fries an a'nljustablev a'tntrnentiti-fthe'fermrv of a set-sfcrew"9I at its end for engaging the trip-member 19 during the rocking movement of the rock-shaft 36: to rock the extension 18 outl of engagement with the vertical abutment 46 whereof to permit the latter to be rockedl to the position shown Fig. 5. A preferred Vform of the invention having been described in detail,- the' inode ofoperation of the vcomplete machine is explained as follows.

To adapt the machine for stitching the manu-l facturers seams of tubular box-'blanks W, or similar work, close to the leading edges thereof the plate 66 may be adjusted alngfthe-top of the table 5 until theabutment 46l at its forward end is positioned closely adjacent the rearward end of the clinching anvil 6A shown in section in Fig. 3. The nuts T4 their may be tightened Ori` the bolts 13 to clar'npthe plate 66'Kin its' adjusted position. The extension-element 18 of the gauge also may be adjusted by loosening the screws 88,- se'e Fig. 6, and sliding it relative' te the trip-member 19 until its forward end engages the rearward face of the abutment 46, the screws'then being tightened to fixedly connect` the extension in adjusted position on the trip-mnben- Toinitiate' a stitching operation a tubular boxblank W may be folded andV inserted into the flap-guide 6to position the a'p'n one of its side panels to overliek thewside of the opposite side panel of the blank;` in the manner shown in Fig. 2. As the folded carton-'blank W is advanced manually it will be engaged: lightly between the auX- iliary feed-rolls 44 and 45. The upper auxiliary fed-roll 44, oontii'lilll'sly driven at a high rate of speedv from the shaft` Ill-,through the intermeshing gears 52', 5-IV4 and: 562,` will: cause the may be august'eel4 to" the and of tneiciiynchmg' anvil" of thev box-blank Wto be advanced automatically until its leading edge engages the abutment 46 and rocks the latter from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4. The rearward movement of the abutment 46'as it rocks on its pivot 63 will be transmitted to the extension 'I8 of the trip-member 'I9 to slide the plate 2| of the gauge I8 on which it is mounted, see Figs. 3 and 4. Rearward movement of the slidab-le plate 2| and post 36 mounted thereon will cause the abutments 32 and 33 to operate the push-buttons 26 and 2'I of the tWo switches in succession. l

Upon operation of the push-button 26 of one switch the shaft I will be disconnected from its continuously-operating driving means and connected to intermittently-operated driving means by suitable mechanism such as illustrated and described in my Patent No. 2,305,418 referred to above. Upon operation of the push-button of the second switch the main drive-shaft 4 will be clutched to i-ts prime-mover to initiate operation of the stitching head 2 to apply a predetermined number of staples lS to the work W.

Due to the position of the carton-blank W at the beginning of a wire-stitching operation, as controlled by the abutment 46, the first staple S will be driven into the work closely adjacent its leading edge, see Figs. 4 and 9, and the legs of the driven staple will be clinched in the grooves 'I or" the anvil 6. During the application of the first staple S to the work the rearwardly-extending finger 39 on the reciprocating member 38 of the stitching head 2 will engage and actuate the arm 31, see Fig. 6, to turn the rock-shaft 36 on the gauge I8 from the position shown in Fig. 7 to that shown in Fig. 8. Upon such turning motion of the rook-shaft 36 the abutment 9| at the end of the arm 96 will engage and rock the tripmember 'I9 on its pivots 80 to the position shown.

in Fig. 8 to raise the extension 'I8 to a position above the upper edge of the abutment 46 against the tension of the spring 89. After the extension 'I8 has disengaged the abutment 46 the spring 28, see Fig. 6, will slide the plate 2| of the gauge I8 forwardly to its initial position indicated by dash-lines in Fig. 4 to release the push-buttons 26 and 2'! of the electrical switches, at which time its forward end will overlie the upper edge of the abutment.

Simultaneously with the operation of the stitching head 2 the drive-shaft 4 will operate through suitable mechanism to rock the shaft I5 mounting the lower feed-rolls 9. Rocking motion of the shaft I5 will be transmitted through the crank-arm 55 and abutment 5'I to rock the arm 54 upwardly whereby tov move the lower auxiliary feed-roll 45 toward the upper feed-roll 44 to firmly grip the carton-blank therebetween.

After the rst staple S has been applied to stitch the manufacturers seam of the cartonblank W the upper auxiliary feed-roll 44 will be rotated from the shaft I 0, operating through the intermeshing gears 52, 5I and 50, to advance the box-blank a predetermined `distance between stitches. The continued movement of the boxblank W will cause the abutment 46 to be rocked to the position shown in Fig. 5 and the leading end of the blank will be advanced through the space between the abutment and the extension 'I8 of the trip-member 'I9 in the manner indicated in Fig. 5 until the leading edge of the blank is gripped between the main feed-rolls 8 and 9. The wire-stitching head 2 will continue to operate to apply staples S to the work as the main and auxiliary feed-rolls 8, 9 and 44,45 rotate in timed relation to the operation of the stitching means until the stitching of the manufacturers seam is completed. During the stitching of the seam of a box-blank W of the type herein shown the depending fiange of the extension 'I3 on the tripmember 'I9 will ride on the top of the blank to provide a single line of contact of the gauge with the blank.

Upon completion of a stitching operation the shaft I0 will be connected to the continuouslyoperating driving means to discharge the stitched box from the machine and the shaft I5 will be rocked to return the lower feed-rolls 9 and 45 to their normal spaced relationship as illustrated in Fig. 1. As the rearward end of the stitched box releases the abutment 46 the spring 69 will rock it to the upright positionshown in Fig. 3, the rocking movement of the abutment being limited by the engagement of its bottom edge with the top of the blocks 64 and 65 on the supporting plate 66. During the rocking movement of the abutment 46 to its upright position the inclined cam-face 86 at the forward end of the depending ange 85 of the extension 'I8 will be engaged by the upper edge of the abutment to rock the trip-member 'I9 on its pivots 80 to permit the abutment to pass by its end. The trip-member 'I9, however, will be rocked by the spring 89 to engage the forward end of its extension 18 with the rearward side of the abutment 46 as illustrated in Fig. 3. The machine is then ready for another stitching operation,

it Will be understood that .by adjusting the plate 66 along the table 5 the abutment 46 may be positioned in relation to the stitch-line of the wirestitching head 2 so that the first stitch will be applied to the work at any desired distance from its forward edge. If it is desired to stitch the usual type of slotted carton-blank the auxiliary feedrolls 44 and 45 may be removed readily from the machine and the usual depending abutment such as illustrated in my prior patent may be substituted for the abutment 46, supporting plate 66 and rockable trip-member 'I9. As stated above, the auxiliary feed-rolls 44 and 45 and the improved form of gauge I8 may be applied to the type of wire-stitching machine illustrated and described in my prior Patent No. 2,266,550 issued December 16, 1941, In this type of machine separate step-feed and discharge rolls are provided on opposite sides of a rockable cradle. When the auxiliary feed-rolls 44 and 45 are to be applied to this latter type of machine the arm 54 mounting the lower auxiliary feed-roll 45 will be mounted on the rock-shaft of the cradle and operated in the same manner as explained above.

It will be observed from the foregoing specification that the present invention provides improvements in wire-stitching machines to adapt them to stitch the manufacturers seam of carton or box-blanks closely adjacent the leading edges thereof as they are fed forward in the machine. It will be observed also that the present invention provides a novel form of gauge adapted to be adjusted to a position closely adjacent the stitch-line of the wire-stitching means. It still further will be observed that the present invention provides for the application of the auxiliaryr feed-rolls and gauge as attachments to standard machines.

While a preferred form of construction of the improvement in wire-stitching machines is illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of the mechanism thereof with-V out. departingifrom the spirit or scope of the inv'ention'.' Therefore, without limiting myself in Y this respect, I claim:

' l; In a machine of the type indicated, wirestitching means, work-feeding means, a Work-operated gaugev comprising-means engageable by the work, and control-means actuated by the gauge for'v initiating operation of theA wire-stitching means, `said work-feeding lmeans being positioned forwardly of the stitch-line of the wire-stitching means to adapt the work Atc be advanced as it is stitched closely adjacent its leading edge.

2. In a machine ofthe type indicated, wirestitching meansrfor stitching'the manufacturers seam of a box, work-feeding means for advancing the box-blank between stitches, a work-operated gauge having means engageable by the leading edge of. the blank closely adjacent the stitchline ofthe wire-stitching means, and controlmeans actuated by the gauge for initiating operation of the wire-stitching means, said work-feeding means being Ypositioned forwardly of the stitch-line of the wire-stitching means Vto adapt the box-blank to be advanced thereby as it is stitched closely adjacent its leading edge.

` 3. In a machine of the type indicated, wirestitching means for stitching themanufacturers seam of a boX, work-feeding means for advancing thebox-blank between stitches, a work-operated gauge having means engageable by the leading edger of the blank, means permitting adjustment of the gauge relative to the stitching means to a position closely adjacent the stitch-line thereof, and control-means actuated by the gauge for initiating the operation of the wire-stitching means, said work-feeding means being positioned forwardly of the stitch-line of the wire-stitching means to adapt the box-blank to be advanced thereby as it is stitched closely adjacent its leading edge.

4. In a machine of the type indicated, wirestitching means for stitching the manufacturers seam of a box, work-feeding means for advancing the box-blank between stitches, a work-operated gauge ,having means engageable by the leading edge of the blank closely adjacent the stitch-line of the wire-stitching means, control means actuated by the gauge for initiating operation of the wire-stitching means, auxiliary work-feeding means positioned forwardly of the stitch-line of the wire-stitching means to advance the blank to the first-mentioned feeding means to provide for stitching it closely adjacent its leading edge, and means for driving the auxiliary feeding means in synchronism with the wire-stitching means.

5` In a machine of the type indicated, wirestitcbing means for stitching the manufacturers seam of a box, feed-rolls at the rear of the wirestitching means for advancing the box-blank between stitches, a work-operated gauge having means engageable by the leading edge of the blank closely adjacent the stitch-line of the wire-stitching means, control-means actuated by the gauge for initiating operation of the wirestitching means, auxiliary feed-rolls positioned forwardly of the wire-stitching means, and

.means for driving the auxiliary feed-rolls from the first-mentioned feed-rolls whereby to adapt them to feed the blank as it is stitched closely adjacent its leading edge.

6. In a machine of the type indicated, wirestitching means for stitching the manufacturers seam cfa box, cooperating upper and lower feedrolls at the rear of the wire-stitching means,

stitch-line .of the wire-stitching means, control-- meansactuated by the gaugefor initiating operation ofE the wire-'stitching means, cooperating upper.v and rlower. Yauxiliary Vfeed-rolls positioned forwardlyof thestitch/-line of the wire-stitching.

means, means for driving the auxiliaryfeed-rolls in synchronismwith 'the first-mentioned feedrolls, ,and means for. relatively movingA the auxiliary f'eedrollstoward eachother togrip the boX- blank therebetweenasit is stitchedY closely adjacent itsleading:edge.`

7. In a -lr n ac hineof thetype indicated, wirestitchingmeans vfo r stitching the manufacturers seam o f .abox,v. cooperating upper and lower feedrolls `at therear-.of the wire-stitching. means, means` for moving.- vthe lower-.feed-rolls` toward the upper feed-rolls togrip the box-blank therebetween` and v.advance i-tbetween stitches, a workoperated gauge comprising means engageable by the. leading edge of-v the box closely adjacent the stitch-lineofg1-the wirestitching means, controlmeans actuated by-.thefgauge for initiating operation of thefwire-,stitching means, cooperating upperandlower auxiliary feed-rolls positioned forwardly `l.of vthe wire-stitching means, means.

fordrivingthe uppenauxiliary feed-roll from the i'rst--mentioned,upper feederoll-i and -means for .movingfthe lower auxiliary feed-roll toward the upper auxiliary feed-roll to grip the boxblank therebetween as it is stitched closely adjacent its leading edge.

8. In a machine of the type indicated, wirestitching means, .work-feeding means, an abutment pivotally mounted to adapt it to be rocked by the work, means operated by the rocking movement of the abutment for initiating operation of the wire-stitching means, means for connecting the abutment to the means operated thereby, and means actuated by the wire-stitching means for releasing said connecting means to disconnect the abutment from the means operated thereby to permit the work to pass therebetween.

9. In a machine of the type indicated, wirestitching means, work-feeding means, a worksupporting table, an abutment pivotally mounted on the table to adapt it to be rocked by the work, means operated by the rocking movement of the abutment for initiating operation of the `wirestitching means, means for connecting the abutment to the means operated thereby, and means actuated by the wire-stitching means for releasing said connecting means to disconnect the abutment from the means operated thereby to permit the work to -pass therebetween.

10. In a machine of the type indicated, wirestitching means, work-feeding means, an abutment mounted for pivotal movement to adapt it to be rocked by the work, a gauge comprising a slide, a trip-member on the slide engageable by the abutment for actuating the slide, means actuated by the slide for initiating operation of the wire-stitching means, and means operated by the wire-stitching means for actuating the tripmember to release the abutment whereby to permit the work to pass therebetween.

Porting table below the wire-stitching means, an abutment pivotally mounted on the table and adapted to be engaged and rocked by the Work, a slide supported by the wire-stitching means in spaced relation to the table, a trip-member on the slide engageable by the abutment for actuating the slide, means actuated' by the slide for initiating operation of the wire-stitching means, and means operated by the wire-stitching means for actuating the trip-member to release the abutment whereby to permit the work to pass therebetween 12. In a machine of the type indicated, wirestitching means for stitching the manufacturers seam of a box, means for advancing the boxblank between stitches, a work-supporting table below the wire-stitching means, an abutmentl pivotally mounted on the table and adapted to be engaged and rocked by the blank, means operated by the abutment for initiating operation of the wire-stitching means, meansl actuated by the wire-stitching means to release the abutment from engagement with the means operated thereby to permit the work to pass" therebetween, and means for mounting the abutment and the means operated thereby to, l permit adjustment thereof to a position closelyA adjacent the stitchline of the Wire-stitching means.

13. In a machine of the type indicated, wirestitching means, work-feeding means, an abutment mounted for pivotal movement and adapted to be engaged and rocked by the work, a slide, a trip-member pivotally mounted on the slide, said trip-member normallyn being positioned for engagement and actuation by the abutment, means operable by the slide to initiate operation of the wire-stitching means, a rock-shaft, an arm on the rock-shaft for engaging the tripv member to release it from engagement with the abutment, and means operated by the Wirestit-ching means to rock the rock-shaft.

14. In a machine of the type indicated, Wirestitching means, work-feeding means positioned forwardly of the stitch-line of the wire-stitching means, an abutment pivotally mounted for rocking movement by the work, means operated by the rocking movement of the abutment for initiating operation of the wire-stitching means, and means operated by the wire-stitching means to disconnect the abutment and the means 0perated thereby to permit the work to pass therebetween.

15. In a machine of the type indicated, wirestitching means for stitching the manufacturer's seam of a box, work-feeding means positioned forwardly of the stitch-line of the wire-stitching means for advancing the work between stitches, a work-supporting table below the Wire-stitching means, an abutment pivotally mounted on the table closely adjacent the stitch-line of the Wiresttching means to adapt it to .be rocked by the work, means operated by the rocking movement of the abutment for initiating the operation of the wire-stitching means, and means operated by the wire-stitching means to disconnect the abutment and the means operated thereby to permit the work to pass therebetween.

GEORGE H. HARRED. 

